Music News: David Byrne releases remix to support ailing Bernie Worrell

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David Byrne has released a remix of his 2007 song “How Does the Brain Wave” — a collaboration with keyboardist Bernie Worrell and DJ Prince Paul — to support Worrell, who has been diagnosed with prostate, liver, and lung cancer. Worrell, a member of Parliament-Funkadelic, played extensively with Talking Heads in the 1980s. On Monday night, a New York concert benefiting Worrell featured George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, and more. (Rolling Stone)

A celebration of Phife

Tuesday night at the Apollo Theater, luminaries including Rakim, Redman, and Posdnuous (De La Soul) gathered to pay tribute to the late Phife Dawg of A Tribe Called Quest. In a speech, Kanye West said Phife Dawg’s music “raised” him. (SPIN)

Beyoncé says she’s not anti-police

In a rare interview, Beyoncé has responded to charges that her “Formation” song and video are anti-police. “Anyone who perceives my message as anti-police is completely mistaken,” says the singer. “I have so much admiration and respect for officers and the families of officers who sacrifice themselves to keep us safe. But let’s be clear: I am against police brutality and injustice.” (Billboard)

Google offers VR tour of Abbey Road

In a new app meant for use with its Cardboard VR device, Google takes fans inside London’s legendary Abbey Road Studios for an immersive virtual-reality tour. The app is now available for Android, with an iOS version coming soon. (CNET)

Radiohead’s back catalog hops labels

The back catalog of Radiohead is being transferred from Parlophone to XL Recordings. The immediate implication for music fans is that the band’s non-LP songs have disappeared from streaming services; a spokesperson for XL says that material is being “reconfigured,” which presumably means it will be reissued at a future date. (Rolling Stone)

Tape is rolling on Stones

Ronnie Wood has confirmed what Keith Richards recently hinted: the Rolling Stones are in the studio, recording classic blues covers as well as new songs for an album that may be released within the year. The album would be their first studio release since 2005’s A Bigger Bang. A spokesperson for the band tells the New York Times the recording is “purely at the demo stage. There is no album cover and no release date yet.”

Beach House keep it close

Beach House have announced a new round of intimate shows at small venues as part of their ongoing tour, which includes an Aug. 12 date at the Eaux Claires festival. (Pitchfork)

Explosions blowing up

Explosions in the Sky stopped by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to play “Disintegration Anxiety,” a song from their new album The Wilderness. The band will be at First Avenue on Sept. 9. (Rolling Stone)

Kanye set to achieve streaming landmark

Kanye West’s The Life of Pablo is on track to become the first album ever to top the Billboard 200 based solely on streaming, without being available for purchase either digitally or in hard copy. (NME)

Melissa vs. Jimmy

Melissa McCarthy prevailed over Jimmy Kimmel in a late-night lip-synch battle that saw the Ghostbusters star answering the host’s performance of Zayn’s “Pillowtalk” with prop-assisted take on the Disney song “Colors of the Wind.” (Billboard)

And the Taylor Swift Award goes to…

It seems like Taylor Swift has won every award out there, so BMI went ahead and created a new one just for her: the Taylor Swift Award, which Swift will receive at the upcoming BMI Pop Awards. This marks the second time BMI has created a special award exclusively for one artist: in 1990, the first and last Michael Jackson Award went to the King of Pop. (Billboard)